Four CD set features over four hours of jazz classics from such artists as Norah Jones, St. Germain, Nina Simone, Shuggy Otis, Luther Vandross, Ella Fitzgerald, & many more. It's the 1st part of popular series "The Best… Ever!"

Given the vaunted status of and incessant competitiveness among qualified musicians for the first section chairs of major symphony orchestras, perhaps it should not come as too much of a surprise that a first-chair soloist is often as skilled in transmitting concerto literature as a "star" recitalist. But producers of classical recordings have not often elected to showcase the talents of first-chair performers, certainly not to the extent that a listener would commonly encounter them in the concert hall.

Issued to celebrate Esa-Pekka Salonen’s time with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (he is now their first ever conductor laureate), this valuable disc really points us to how important Salonen may be seen one day as a composer. Although he reputedly sees his conducting activities as bill-paying ones, he is nevertheless ultra-high profile (he is presently principal conductor and artistic advisor of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra).

Gunn’s composition’s always aspire to Grand Canyon-style grandeur. Heroic themes, vocal chants, and African-influenced percussive rhythms propel Gunn’s flute through expansive compositions with synthesizer orchestrations and a filigree of acoustic guitar and piano. I’ve been a big fan of Malkin’s music since I reviewed his terrific Thousand Pieces of Gold over a year ago. An Emmy award winner who has scored many television shows and movies, Gary brings a wealth of thematic genius to this latest in the National Park Series from Real Music.